Bilaterally and uniformly extensible unit



1952 LE ROY v. JACOBSEN ETAL 2, ,021

BILATERALLY AND UNIFORMLY EXTENSIBLE UNIT Filed Nov. 19, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1% it /z /4 :0

I8 0 IN V EN TORS 3 7 15-5 L.V. Jncosssu I4 BY G.G. Goauu: I7 Z 1952 LE ROY v. JACOBSEN ETAL 2,581,021

BILATERALI Y AND UNIFORMLY EXTENSIBLE UNIT Filed NOV. 19, 1948 3 sheets sheet 2 JNVENTORS L. V. Jnconazu 6.6. Goumc Jan. 1, 1952 Filed Nov. 19, 1948 LE ROY V. JACOBSEN EI'AL BILATERALLY AND UNIFORMLY EXTENSIBLE UNIT 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 i /4 i .34 3/3 34 FL /5 0 o 6 o o o o o w 37 .3 d7

INVENTORJ L. V. Jncoasew 6. G. Gosl. INE

Patented Jan. I, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BILATERALLY AND UNIFORIWLY EXTENSIBLE UNIT Le'R'oy V. J acobsen, Durant-Iowa, and Gilbert G. G'osline, Rock Island, 111., assignors to Bee-Line Gompany, Davenport, Iowa, a copartnership Application November 19, 1948, ScrialNo. 61,103

5 Claims.

Our present invention relates to a Sight-supporting means or force-applying means which isuniformly or evenly extensible at both ends, one use of which is illustrated in- Figs. 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings and another'useof which is as a force-exerting means, as shown in Figs. 11 to 14. Among the objects of this invention are the provision of" an extensible unit which will extend outwardly from the middle, at both ends, when force is exerted to produce extension thereof the provision of an improved supporting bar for. supporting sighting means for use in. checking the'shape of theframe-of a motor vehicle; the provision of abar for exerting an extensive pushing force; and such furthe! objects; advantages, and capabilities as will hereafter appear and as are inherent in the structure disclosed herein. Our invention-further'resides in the-combination, construction, and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and, while we have shown therein what is: now regarded" as the preferred embodiment ofthis invention, together with a slight modification thereof; we do not desire: this disclosure to be interpreted in a limiting sense but rather to: be regarded. as illustrativeonly".

In. the drawings annexed hereto and forming a. parthereof,

Fig.;l shows the outline. of. a. motor vehicle frame. and the. positioning of three units carrying sighting means whereby the. frame may be oheckedfor correctness of shape; ",fFig. 2 is a similar view showing a different mode of checking frame form;

Fig. 3 is an end view' of the structure shown in Fig. 1, showing how thestructure is'suspended from a vehicle frame;

Fig; 4' is a'fragmentary' elevationof an end 'unit,'as shownin Fig; 3, applied'tothe outside of the vehicle frame and illustrating how the unit may be suspended from the outside of the frame instead of the inside;

' Fig. 5' is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of oneend of this unit;

Fig. Gisa reduced plan view, partly in section, showing one-of these units completely collapsed; 7 is a front or back elevation ofcne of these supporting units, partlyinsection: v

Fig; 8- represents an enlargement of the left hand end of. the structureshownin Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan view of a modified form of sighting device,v used as shown in Fig. 2;

'Fig. 10 is an elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 9;

shown in Fig. 11;-

Fig. 11 is a plan vievy of a modified form-of theextensible unit;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the structure Fig. 13 is a fu'lly collapsed view ofaslightly modified form of the structure shown-in Figs. 1:1 and 12;

Fig; 14 is a similar view; partly. extended, showing the structure of Fig. 1 3 being: used to exert pressure; and

Fig. 15' is an end view of the'structure shown in Fig. 12.

The construction and uSBlOf' the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2 will first be described and then the difierences-be'tween this and some other' structures will be pointed out. In the structure as shown in Fig. l, there'is acentral housing'un-it'l which contains laterally extensible units 2 and 3 which are so connected by' cables 4 and 5 that extension of either unit l or=3 will cause extension of the other. This sleeve is preferably ofmetal. This connection is shown in Fig. 8 in which one end of the cable l-is shown connected to the unit 3 by a bolt 6i This cable passes around pulleys I and 8 and-then back to the element 9 where-- it is com-meted to the extensible unit 2; As a result of this; if the extensible unit 3- is pulled out of the central housing I to elongate the bar, the cable 4 will also be pulled out and will cause the extensible unit or member 2 to move'in the opposite di rection from the motion of the unit 3. Therefore, this results in the entire construction being extended equal amounts from the middle o1 the housing I. At the second end, the cable 5, passing-around. thepulley I'll, has its ends connected to the units 2 and 3, reversely, that is, the bolt 5 passesthrough' the. end of the unit '2; and secures. one end or" the cable 5 thereto while the element 9 secures the second end of the cable 5' to the second end of the uniti. Consequently, when either the extensible element 2v or 3' moves outwardly or inwardly, the other one does the same so that the outer ends of these units are kept identically the same distance from the center of the" sighting means or pointer- H. It will be understood thatthe ends of'units or bars 2'and'3 are enclosed in a; housing' 1 and are referred to herein asadjacent ends." A sleeve' i2 is mounted in the-- housing I and the pointer If is mountedmovably therein be ing provided with a collar l3 which prevents the pointer from dropping through. The extensible units 2- and*3 are-provided in their outer; ends with transverse openings for the reception of the suspending or supporting members 14, each of which is provided in its upper end with a transversely slidable supporting member 15 which, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, may suspend the entire unit from the side frame members of the vehicle. The members 15 are shown in Fig. 3 as resting on the lower flanges of the channels (6 but, in Fig. 4, the members I are shown as extending through an opening in the flat body wall of the channel member. Each of the suspending members I4 is provided with a plurality of transverse grooves I! which are spaced a definite distance apart, the space being, preferably, one inch (1"). A latching member 13 is pivotally mounted on a downward extension 13 from the part2!) which forms a part of the units 2 and 3. This latching means I8 is actuated by a spring 2| into latching engagement with the supporting member 14 and, by engagement in a transverse groove H, holds the parts in definitely adjusted position.

As shown in Fig. l, the intention is to have the three sighting members ll directly inline in the center of the vehicle frame, unless that is bent, in which event the sighting members II will be out of alignment and the frame will then have to be straightened.

The structure shown in Figs. 9 and 10 may, as shown in Fig. 2, replace one of the sighting elements of Fig. 1. This structure of Figs. -9 and 10 comprises a bar 22 and a bar 23 secured at a right angle to the bar 22 and having a clip 24 arranged at the outer end of the bar 23, in one side of which clip is threadedly secured a thumb screw 25 which ,can be tightened against the housing ,I to hold the bar 22 at right angles to the housing I. The bar 22 is provided with an opening 26 which may cooperate with a pointer H in the sleeve 12 in holding the bar 22 in properly centered position with relation to the vehicle frame. By this arrangement, the bar 22 holds the sighting means H in the axial plane of the vehicle so that, if the vehicle is straight, the two sighting means H at the rear end of the vehicle in Fig. 2 will be in alignment with the sighting means I I at the front thereof.

' The structure shown in Figs. 11 to 15 embodies thesame principle as the structure described above but the use thereof is somewhat difierent I in that the two bars, corresponding to the extensible units 2 and 3, are used to push elements or structures apart rather than suspending a sighting means from a vehicle frame. The housing 30 surrounds the channel members 3| and 32 and is held in fixed position with relation thereto by the bolts 33 and 34. As indicated in Fig. 11, a roller surrounds the bolt 33, inside of the housing 38 and pulleys are mounted on the bolts 34 and havecables 35 and 36 passing over them and over the pins 31 at the ends of the channel members 3! and 32, being fastened to the screw eyes 38, located in the channels, as indicated in Fig. 12. These screw eyes 38 are fastened in crossbars 39, secured to the flanges of the channels by suitablemeans, such as welding. The nuts on the screw eyes enable any slack in the cables to be taken up so that there will be no lost motion at either end of the tool. Theyalso enable the making of adjustments so that the ends of the pushing bars will be equally distant from the mid-point 33.

Cross plates 40 connect together the U-shaped plates 4! and form guiding frames through which the channels 31 and 32 are slidable. These ond end of the device.

guiding frames serve as abutmcnts for the hydra-ulic jack 43, the head 44 of which bears against one of the guiding frames, and the second end 45 of which bears against a cross plate t6 connecting opposite plates 30 together. Fluid is suppliedto the hydraulicjack. 43 through the pipe 41. .A jack 43 may be placed at either or both ends of the central housing 30.

In order to prevent the guide housing 40, 4| from sliding relatively to the channel members, when a jack is being used to cause relative motion thereof, pins 48 are put through the plates 4| and one of the channels 3! or 32, at the sec- Therefore, both channels are free to move in either direction and each channel will carry with it one of the guide housings, due to the fact that the pins connect the housing to the channel. When the housing has been extended substantially to its limit, the pins .48 are withdrawn and the jack is collapsed so that the pins 48 may be put into other openings in the channels 3i and 32. In order to hold the device against collapsing when the pins 48 are withdrawn, a pin is inserted through the openings 49 and 50. as shown in Fig. 12, to prevent relative sliding of the channels 3! and 32. Guide pulleys for the cables 35 and 36 are mounted on the bolts 5 and help to hold the cables in their proper positions. The bolts 5| help to make the guide frames 40, 4! rigid and to withstand the pressure of the jack 43.

As is clear from Figs. 13 and 14, T-shaped blocks 52 may be secured to the ends of thechannel members 3| and 32, and this will help to get the direction of push against theobjects, for example, frame members, substantially in the axial line of the jack. The lengthening of this device will be seen by a comparison ofFigs. l3 and 14. The resisting force is represented by the rectangles 53. r

This device may be used in many ways, one of which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 which consists in the supporting of sighting instruments. Another use is illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14 and represents the application of a force laterally.

This device may also be used in the application of force vertically, as, for example, in the hoisting of on automobile. The device may have many other uses anditis therefore not intended to set them forth completely but only to indicate typical examples. 4

It will of course be understood that various departures from the structure disclosed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention or being outside of the scope of the appended claims.

Having now described our invention, we claim: 1. In a mechanism of the type described, a pair of relatively slidable elongated metal members surrounded at their central portion by a housing and having their adjacent ends overlapped and connected by a flexible member, pulleys in said housing and rotatably held in the housing in relatively fixed position in relationtothe housing, pivots connecting the pulleys to the housing, and cables connectin adjacent ends of said metal members and a centrally arrangedpulley and passing around the pulleys in the housing whereby to connect the membersto move in opposite directions simultaneously. 1

2. A structure as defined by claim 1 in which a sighting member is connected medially to the housing and extends transversely to the length of said metal members.

3. A structure as defined by claim 1 in which a sighting member is connected medially to the housing and extends transversely to the length of the said metal members and has a sightin point at each of its ends.

4. A structure as defined by claim 1 in which each of the members has a head at its end remote from the housing and a suspending member extending transversely through the head, said suspending member having grooves therein to be engaged by a holding means whereby tohold the suspending means in vertically adjusted position with relation to the metal members, and holding means connected to the head and engageable with the grooves and holding the suspendin means in adjusted positions.

5. A sighting means for a motor vehicle checking means comprising a supporting means which is readily adjustable in length from a central point outwardly in both directions simul- 20 taneously, and a sighting element attached thereto midway of its length, said sighting element comprising an elongated arm having a sightin point at each end and, at its mid-point, an arm extending transversely thereof and secured at a right angle to the axis of the first arm, the second arm, at its end remote from the junction, having a clamping means whereby the sighting element may be held perpendicular to the structure by which it is supported, said clampin means being secured to the end of the second arm remote from the first arm.

LE ROY V. JACOBSEN. GILBERT G. GOSLINE.

REFERENfiES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,000,866 Smith May 7, 1935 2,070,518 Smith Feb. 9, 1937 

